The Consciousness of Addiction: Toward a General Theory of Compulsive Consumption

This article reviews & integrates recent theories of addition drawn from a diverse set of disciplines to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the etiology of addiction & other compulsive behaviours. Two a priori themes – serial/simultaneous addictions & personal crises/role transitions – & five emergent themes – relapse, deception, dysfunctional families, suicide, & boundaries, are discussed. (54 refs.)